Surface texturizer

ABSTRACT

A device for texturizing painted surfaces in which a plurality of tapered S-shaped resilient petals or flaps depend from a formable backing member. The petals or flaps are of non-uniform length. The device has a removable handle for ease in applying it to wall and ceiling surfaces.

United States Patent Bourboulis 1 June 13, 1972 SURFACE TEXTURIZERFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: Cedric li 1425 Ticyhenor378,142 8/1932 Great Britain .15/210 5 CmrLafaYettCa1l94549 707,4524/1954 Great Britain.... 15/210 5 '22 Filed; Aug. 31, 1970 598,7312/1948 Great Britain ..15/210.5 Appl'yNol: 68,291 620,151 3/1949 GreatBritain ..l5/I88 Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum 52 us. 0.... ..11s/102,15210.5 and Townsend [51] Int. Cl .1344! 3/34 [58] Field ofSearch..15/186, 187,188, 210.5;

117/10; 118/102 [57] ABSTRACT A device for texturizing painted surfacesin which a plurality References Clted of tapered S-shaped resilientpetals or flaps depend from a formable backing member. The petals orflaps are of non- UNITED STATES PATENTS uniform length. The device has aremovable handle for ease in 944,821 12/1909 Ridgely 15/2 10.5 applyingit to wall and ceiling surfaces. 3,142,082 7/1964 Harwood. ....l5/210.51,006,630 10/1911 Clarke ..l5/188 '4Claims,9DrawingFigures Q L3 EPATENTEDJUH 1 3 m2 SHEET HP 2 FlGml F 4 v Cm waxa aa ms BY v WW4 WATTORNEYS PATENTEoJum I912 3.669.069

SHEET 20F 2 20 Is 20 32 I8 FIG...5 F|G 6 F|G 7 l8 l8 a INVENTOR.

CEDRIC o. BOURBOULIS .W MW

ATTORNEYS SURFACE TEXTURIZER This invention relates to painting anddecorating devices and more particularly to a texturizer for creatingrandom patterns 'on various surfaces.

Over the years, a number of devices and techniques have been utilizedfor applying unusual finishes to wall, ceiling, and other surfaces.In'the past, decorative effects have been obtained by rubbing rags orcrumpled-up newspapers over wet paint on surfaces to create theso-called tiffany finish or other effects. These finishes are no longerused because of the large amount of labor which must be expended andbecause, properly done, a large degree of skill must be utilized. Therehave been many proposals and devices utilized for creating decorativeeffects including many kinds of stipling brushes. I am aware of a numberof these, for example, .the stippling brushes and devices shown in U.S.Pat. Nos. 1,154,928, 1,700,079, 1,772,520, and 1,936,174. I am alsoaware ofa socalled wood graining device in U.S. Pat. No. 2,815,601 aswell as the decorating device shown in British Pat. No. 598,731. None ofthe devices of which I am aware can accomplish the object of providing at'exturizing unit for paints and other materials which will yield arandom pattern on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces merely by pressingthe device against the surface after a coating of wet paint has beenapplied. It is quite clear from the description of the devices describedin the patents listed above that they cannot be used in the same mannerasthe present invention. z

The present invention permits the easy creation of random effectsthrough the flexing action of tapered thin resilient petals mounted in aplanar backing member. The backing member is provided with a removablehandle to more easily permit the manipulation of the tool in applying itto a wall surface. The resilient petals or flaps arespaced apart fromeach other to permit the maximum flexure. They are formed into anapproximate S-shape which permits a substantial amount of flexure and,in addition, causes the petals to flex differently each time thetexturizer is pressed against a surface. In this way, a truly randompattern is obtained from the use of the device. The S-shape of thepetals or flaps also serves to stiffen them so that they return to theiroriginal position immediately after flexure. They also have randomlengths so that a truly random pattern is obtained.

Thebacking member, which in the preferred embodiment is made out of anatural or synthetic rubber, is provided with a formable core so thatthe backing member can be shaped to conform the texturizer to concave orconvex surfaces. Because the individual tapered S-shaped petals arespaced apart in the backing member there is no tendency of theindividual petals to pick up any substantial amount of paint from thesurface to .be decorated so that there is no tendency, for runs or otherdefects to be created in the painted surface.

In The Drawings:

FIG, 1 is a side elevational view of a paint texturizer of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a partial bottom plan view showing the S-shape of the petals;I I

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through one of the petals showing itstapered shape;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the texturizer petals;

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the petal slit at approximately itscenter for a change in the resulting texture;

FIG. 7 is asimilar view to FIG. 5 showing two slits in the petal foreven finer texture;

FIG. 8 is an end view in partial section showing the shaping of thebacking member to conform to a convex surface; and

FIG. 9 is.a perspective view of petals showing the movement of thepetals in causing thesurface to be texturized.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which the samereference'numerals refer to identical parts in each of the severalviews, a paint texturizer of the present invention is shown generally at10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The texturizer comprises a backing member 12 madeof a resilient material such as synthetic rubber formed around aformable core member 14. The core member is'of a formable material suchas expanded metal or similar material which will permit the backingmember to be conformed to various shapes. Depending from the undersurface 16 of the backing member is a plurality of resilient petalsorflaps 18. In the preferred embodiment these resilient petals or flaps 18are formed of a synthetic rubber and are approximately one inch long by1 V4 inches wide. The petals taper from approximately oneeighth inchthick at the base 20 of the petal 18 where it joins the backing member12 to approximately one-sixteenth of an inch or less in thickness at thetip 22. The synthetic rubber petals are preferably formed integrallywith the material of the backing member 12 by means of molding orsimilar processes. The petals 18 are of random lengths, the difierencebetween the longest and shortest petals being approximately one-eighthinch.

As may be noted from the bottom plan view of FIG. 3 and in theillustrations of the individual petals in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the petalsare molded into the backing member so that they form a generally openS-shape. I have noted that this shape when combined in the proportionslisted results in an extremely resilient petal admirably suited for thetexturizing as accomplished by the unit described. The S-shape causesthe petals to spring back to their initial shape immediately uponrelease of pressure. I a g In order to properly use the texturizer, ahandle 24 which may be formed of heavy gauge metal or similar materialis utilized for gripping the backing member. The handle 24 is formedwith a gripping portion 26 and a curved retainer part 28 at the outeredges of the handle to snap over and grip the edges of the backingmember 12 to formthe complete texturizer unit 10.

The tool is used by applying a coating of paint over a surface and,while the paint is wet, the texturizer of the present invention ispushed briskly directly against the surface with the backing memberapproximately parallel to the surface. This brisk pressure or poundingof the unit against the surface is often called pouncing. A small amountof pressure on the texturizer will cause the individual petals 18 tofold, curl, roll or slide in various directions as may be seen in FIG.9. Because of the resilient construction of the petals, they will movein different directions with each pouncing of the unit. Thus, thepresent texturizer, as contrasted with prior art devices, does notrequire twisting, turning or other manipulation in order to obtain thedesired random texture. Simply-pressing the unit against the wetpaint onthe surface will create the desired texture in a completely randompattern so that the entire wall or ceiling surface will have an entirelyrandom pattern rather than repeated sections of the same texturedpattern.

The petals 18 of the general dimensions described above will result in alarge texture pattern. If a finer pattern is desired, it is possible tomake a cut 30 in each of the petals in the center thereof from the tip24 towards the base 20 as illustrated in FIG. 6 so that smaller wipingportions of the petal act on the paint surface. For an even finertexture, two cuts 32 from the tip 24 toward the base 20 as illustratedin FIG. 7 may be made in each of the petals for multiplied wipingsurfaces narrower than the usual petal and resultant finer texturepattern.

The texturizer may be used to form a textured finish in plaster orsimilar materials. In such a case, the same kind of procedure isutilized as for paint. The wet texture mixture of plaster or othermaterial is applied with a brush, trowel, spray or roller over thesurface and, while it is wet, the texturizer tool is pounced on thesurface in the same manner as for paint. This will result in randommounds of texture material varying in thickness up to approximatelyone-fourth of an inch. The petals of the present invention will resultin random pattern being formed over the entire surface to be textured sothat defective or uneven walls can be hidden or plaster sheet rock andsimilar surfaces decorated in an unusual manner.

The texturizer tool of the present invention may be utilized forapplying a textured finish to curved surfaces. The expanded metal orsimilar core 14 molded inside the rubber of the backing member 12 willpermit conforming the shape of the texturizer to any curved surfacesmerely by bending the unit with the fingers. After the surface has beendecorated, the core member may be straightened with the fingers and thetexturizer will again be suitable for use on flat surfaces.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious that other adaptations and modificationscan be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

I CLAIM:

l. A surface texturizer comprising a planar backing member, amultiplicity of substantially S-shaped, resilient flaps depending fromone of the planar faces of the backing member, said flaps of randomlengths so that the free ends of the flaps are not coplanar, said flapshaving a tapered crosssection with the narrowest portion adjacent thetip thereof, and a gripping member connected to the backing member formanipulating the texturizer.

2. The surface texturizer of claim 1 wherein the backing member isformed of resilient material having a formable core member therein topermit the backing member to be bend to conform to curved surfaces andthereupon maintain its shape.

3. The surface texturizer of claim 1 wherein the flaps have at least oneslit therein along the length thereof to permit the flaps to flex as aplurality of narrow petals to yield a finer textured surface.

4. A surface texturizer comprising a yieldable backing member, amultiplicity of spaced apart elongate flaps formed integrally with thebacking member and extending from the member at right angles thereto,each of the flaps made of resilient material and having a taperedcross-section with the thicker portion adjacent the member so that theends of the flaps will readily bend and curl when pressure is applied tothe backing member, each of the flaps having a substantially S- shapedcross-section along a plane parallel to the backing member so that theflaps will tend to spring back to their original shape when appliedpressure is relieved, said flaps being of random lengths so that thefree ends thereof are not coplanar, and a removable handle mounted onthe backing member for manipulating the texturizer.

1. A surface texturizer comprising a planar backing member, amultiplicity of substantially S-shaped, resilient flaps depending fromone of the planar faces of the backing member, said flaps of randomlengths so that the free ends of the flaps are not coplanar, said flapshaving a tapered cross-section with the narrowest portion adjacent thetip thereof, and a gripping member connected to the backing member formanipulating the texturizer.
 2. The surface texturizer of claim 1wherein the backing member is formed of resilient material having aformable core member therein to permit the backing member to be bend toconform to curved surfaces and thereupon maintain its shape.
 3. Thesurface texturizer of claim 1 wherein the flaps have at least one slittherein along the length thereof to permit the flaps to flex as aplurality of narrow petals to yield a finer textured surface.
 4. Asurface texturizer comprising a yieldable backing member, a multiplicityof spaced apart elongate flaps formed integrally with the backing memberand extending from the member at right angles thereto, each of the flapsmade of resilient material and having a tapered cross-section with thethicker portion adjacent the member so that the ends of the flaps willreadily bend and curl when pressure is applied to the backing member,each of the flaps having a substantially S-shaped cross-section along aplane parallel to the backing member so that the flaps will tend tospring back to their original shape when applied pressure is relieved,said flaps being of random lengths so that the free ends thereof are notcoplanar, and a removable handle mounted on the backing member formanipulating the texturizer.